The intimacy of the prince with the gallant Nelson is well known as one of the most interesting incidents of the duke's life. They first met at Quebec in 1782, when Nelson was in the Albemarle off that station, and whence he was ordered to convoy a fleet of transports to New York. From this time they became much attached, and their separation was the cause of mutual regret. At the close of the war they met again, both being appointed to the Leeward island station. Nelson soon had an opportunity of witnessing the prince's resolute obedience to orders, amidst great personal danger, and strong temptations to avarice, the circumstances of which are briefly as follow:--The law excluded all foreign vessels from trade and intercourse with our West India islands; and America, being now independent, and as much a foreign nation as any other, Nelson, the senior captain on the station, ordered all American vessels to quit the islands within forty-eight hours, on pain of seizure, and prosecution of their owners. Four vessels at Nevis remained, which he ordered to be searched, and on being found American, they were adjudged legal prizes. This proceeding placed Nelson in considerable difficulty, but he ultimately triumphed; and though the thanks of government for protecting its commerce were given to the admiral of the station, who had in fact opposed the measure, Nelson was conscious of having done his duty, and enjoyed the approbation of such as were disinterested witnesses of it. Among these was Prince William, who thus notices Nelson's conduct on this occasion in a letter to a friend: "It was at this era," says the prince, "that I particularly observed the greatness of Nelson's superior mind. The manner in which he enforced the spirit of the Navigation Act first drew my attention to the commercial interests of my country. We visited different islands together; and as much as the manoeuvres of fleets can be described off the headlands of islands, we fought over again the principal naval actions in the American war. Excepting the naval tuition which I had received on board the Prince George, when the present Rear Admiral Keats was lieutenant of her, and for whom we both entertained a sincere regard, my mind took its first decided naval turn from this familiar intercourse with Nelson."